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Superintendent's Message
Dear RBHS Students, Families, Staff, and Community,
We are fast approaching winter break, followed by the end of our first semester. This holiday break is an opportunity to rest, recharge, and enjoy our families. The second semester will be here before we know it, and I hope everyone is up for the challenge to finish the school year strong!!! As the holidays approach, I would like to wish all of the RB community a healthy, happy, and safe holiday season.
Please see the piece below about the new position (School Safety Liaison) that will be implemented at the start of the second semester. Providing a safe and secure learning environment is our first priority, and we are excited to have this resource available to the students, staff, and community.
Go Bulldogs!!
Cordially,
Kevin Skinkis, Ed.D
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The District 208 Board of Education and Administration are proud to announce the implementation of a new position at Riverside Brookfield High School, the School Safety Liaison (SSL). This position will take effect this school year at the start of the second semester. The School Safety Liaison (SSL) position will be filled by a retired law enforcement agent. The primary goal of this position is to have a trained/armed law enforcement representative assist the Administration in providing a safe and secure learning environment while serving as a liaison between the School District and the local police departments.
The SSL
will serve as the District's Truancy Officer and assist the Administration with:
- School investigations
- Crisis response plan
- Staff training
- Safety and security procedures
- Drug and violence prevention
- Bullying and harassment prevention
- Event supervision
- Traffic control
At the December Board meeting, the Board of Education approved retired Police Chief Lane Niemann for the School Safety Liaison position. Mr. Niemann retired as the Chief of Police from the North Riverside Police Department in November. He has 33 years of law enforcement experience. He was a Certified DARE officer who has experience working in a school setting. He has worked closely with the District 208 Administration and the police chiefs from both Brookfield and Riverside. He has been involved in multiple meetings over the last several years that helped develop the District's crisis plan and safety drills.
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2018-19 District Calendar
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At the December Board meeting, a draft of the 2018-19 school calendar was presented to the Board for a first read. This calendar was reviewed with the feeder school superintendents to align winter and spring breaks. The Board will approve the final calendar in January.
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The Board approved the 2017 Levy at the December Board meeting. The Levy is the projected amount of tax dollars needed to operate the School District next year. District 208 falls under the tax-cap legislation (PTEL); therefore, the School District's levy is expected to increase by last year's Consumer Price Index (2.1%).
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2018-19 Enrollment and Staffing
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At the November Board meeting, enrollment and staffing projections were presented by the Administration. Student enrollment is expected to remain somewhat flat at approximately 1640 students for the 2018-19 school year. The certified staffing is projected to remain at approximately 104 certified staff positions.
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The Board of Education will have two meetings in January. The Regular meeting is January 9, 2018, and the Committee of the Whole meeting is January 23, 2018. Both meetings will be held in Conference Room 201 starting at 7:00 p.m. Information regarding Board meetings can be found on the RB website under the Board of Education tab or watch the meetings on
www.rbtv.tv.
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Principal's Message
With final exams rapidly approaching, please encourage your student to begin preparing for these exams. One great resource available to all students is National Honors Society Tutoring. More information about final exams and this resource is provided below.
We are very excited to have a current staff member, Brendan Curtin, be hired as our new Assistant Principal of Athletics for the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Curtin is currently a wellness teacher, head football coach, and Instructional Coach for the wellness and fine arts departments. Prior to his time at RB, Mr. Curtin was the
Assistant Athletic Director at Nazareth Academy and fulfilled many of the responsibilities as an Assistant Principal of Athletics. As an alumni of RB and a former three-sport athlete, he bleeds blue and white! Mr. Curtin will also continue to coach football for the 2018 season.
The faculty and staff wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season.
Kristin Smetana
Principal
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The final exam schedule for the first semester is listed below. No final examinations or final summative assessments may be administered before regularly scheduled exams. Students may not be excused from this obligation by the classroom teacher. National Honor Society tutoring is available in the student cafeteria from 3:05 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays for students who would like some extra assistance preparing for final exams.
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DATE
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PERIOD
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TIME
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Tuesday, December 19
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Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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Wednesday, December 20
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Period 4
Period 5
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m.- 1:15 p.m.
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Thursday, December 21
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Period 6
Period 7
Make-up
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8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
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Class of 2022 Important Information
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Future Bulldog Night for Incoming Freshmen & Parents
Wednesday, January 17, 2018, at 7:00 p.m.
Students from the class of 2022 will receive their results from the placement exam and their recommended placements for freshman year. Additionally, parents and students will have the opportunity to speak with Instructional Coaches from each department, receive information about the registration process and course selection, and their registration appointment time for Saturday, January 27, 2018.
Students and parents will also be able to learn about the programs available to them at RB and have a chance to meet with our students who are already involved in athletics and activities. The main hallways will display our various clubs and non-sport activities, and the field house will display all of the athletic programs offered at RB. You will be able to talk with teachers, coaches, and administrators about the full range of offerings.
Incoming Freshman Registration & Course Selection Day
Saturday, January 27, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (By scheduled appointment)
Parents will submit registration materials, and students will register for classes. Instructional Coaches and counselors will be available to answer questions about placements and elective opportunities.
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Testing Information
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Upcoming Winter National ACT and SAT Exam Registration Deadlines
Either students interested in taking the SAT in December and/or in March or the National ACT in February may do so at any neighboring school that will be hosting the exam on those dates. RB will not be hosting either of those national test dates.
The national ACT will be offered on February 10, 2018. Interested students should register by January 12, 2018, at
www.actstudent.org
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AP Testing Information
Copies of the 2017-2018 Bulletin for AP Students and Parents will be distributed to all students enrolled in an AP class during AP classes in January. Please take the time to read through this brochure as it provides important information regarding AP exams. A draft of the AP exam schedule at RBHS is
available for review
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PSAT Results
RBHS will hand out paper copies of the scores and return test booklets to each student that took the PSAT sometime in January. Students should listen to announcements for the hand out date and expect to receive a follow-up email to confirm this information as well.
For testing-related questions, please contact Marc Helgeson, Testing Director, at
helgesonm@rbhs208.net
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Important Yearbook Information
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Senior Yearbook Ads are due by December 31! Follow the link on the RB website or go to
www.jostensadservice.com
to design and order your senior ad. Don't miss out on this opportunity to show your pride and recognize your senior's accomplishments. Email Allison Marsh with any questions
marsha@rbhs208.net
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Order your yearbook
now while you can still get a discount! The price increases from $50 first semester to $55 second semester. Go to
www.jostens.com
or the Business Office to place your order.
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RBLibrary
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We have had a busy semester in RBLibrary. We have kicked off the Lincoln Award contest! The Lincoln Award is the Illinois Teen Readers' Choice Award, sponsored by the Illinois School Library Media Association. Each year a list of 20 books are nominated for the award, and students are encouraged to read them and vote for their favorite in the spring. Students must read four books in order to vote at the voting party hosted in the Library towards the end of February 2018. Let's get reading!
Also, the Bulldog Book Club has returned to RBLibrary. We have read and enjoyed two books so far: The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick  Ness and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. Our next read is Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older - a novel about Sierra Santiago, who begins to notice all the murals in her Brooklyn neighborhood are beginning to fade and change right in front of her, leading her to discover that her Puerto Rican family are Shadowshapers and finds herself in battle with an evil anthropologist for the lives of her family and friends. All are welcome to join us to discuss this excellent novel at our December meeting.
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Extracurricular Activities Update
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Model UN at Carthage College
On Friday, November 3, Model United Nations attended the Carthage  College Conference in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The delegates represented Japan, Mexico, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, and the Republic of Congo as well as participants in the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Junior Cali Carlson received a First Place Best Delegate Award for her work representing Sierra Leone and senior Erik Robertson received a Third Place Best Delegate Award for his work representing Mexico. Additionally, multiple delegates, including Maggie Greenlees (junior), Rowan Elwart (junior), and Kathe Pribyl Pierdinock (sophomore), passed their resolutions. Congratulations to all the delegates for their hard work!
German Club Outing to Daley Plaza
The German Club visited Daley Plaza for the Christkindlmarket in  Chicago on Saturday, December 2. They did an architectural tour on the way. The weather was great, and students got a chance to sample German foods, buy holiday gifts, and learn about products from different regions of the German-speaking countries.
Student Association Update
The first of two annual blood drives was a huge success with a record number of 127 pints donated! This means up to 374 lives are helped with this blood. The next drive is scheduled for Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Following the all-school Veterans Day celebration, SA helped organize Cards for the Troops. Students and staff helped write more than 300 holiday cards that will be given to the USO of Illinois, who will distribute it both in America and overseas to troops. And finally, SA had a record number of Thanksgiving Baskets created by various clubs, classes, and staff members for people in need. We collected enough food and gift cards to assist 30 families to have plenty of food for a Happy Thanksgiving!
Currently
we are working on Santa Anonymous, where again numerous clubs, classes, and staff members are involved in purchasing gifts for more than 30 individuals. We also ran a Coat, Hat, Scarf, Mittens, and Blanket drive.
Students are welcome to join SA at any time throughout the year. We meet every Wednesday at 7:20 a.m. in Room 201.
Chess Team
The 2017-18
season is off to a good start.
The Bulldogs are currently 4-3,  with victories over LT, Oak Forest, Fenton, and Richards. All of our losses have been close matches with Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, and Richards (which we avenged a month later).
Junior Megan Sroka is 7-0 on 6th/7th board! Three big tournaments and our last dual meet vs. Argo to get us ready for the IHSA Sectional in January and state in February!
Repertory Dance Ensemble Show
The Repertory Dance Ensemble and current Wellness Dance Classes gave a memorable performance on Friday, November 17, and Saturday, November 18. They were extremely excited to showcase the material they had been working on this past semester, and for some dancers, this was their first time on stage in front of an audience!
National Honor Society
Twenty-two new seniors were inducted into NHS, and there are now  103 senior members. NHS hosted a bake sale to raise funds for the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children. They are donating $300 to provide nutritionally complete meals specifically formulated for malnourished children. NHS students have also tutored over 100 students so far this year in the morning, at the Hangout, in Academic Support, and individually.
Math Team
On Saturday, December 2, the Math Team competed in a very tight MSC Math Competition. Only 12 points separated the 1st place school from the 4th place school!
In Algebra 1, Jack Jameson took 8th and Celeste Izaguirre took 3rd place. The Algebra 1 team of Peter Giannetos, Celeste Izaguirre, Jack Jameson, Cassidy Krupske, Ryan Lach, Isabella Linarez took 3rd place.
In Geometry, Danny Kawiecki took 8th, Grace DiBartolomeo and Claire Kawiecki tied for 5th, Will O'Brien took 4th, and Josh Turner took 2nd place. As a team, the Geometry team of Jade Connor, Grace DiBartolomeo, Jacqueline DiMonte, Taylor Jurgens, Claire Kawiecki, Danny Kawiecki, Will O'Brien, Kathe Pribyl Pierdinock, and Josh Turner took 1st place!
 In Algebra 2, Elise Wojack and Joe Kawiecki tied for 9th, and Luka Malovic got 5th place. As a team, the Algebra 2 team of Joe Kawiecki, Luka Malovic, Andres Resto, Joey Vitec, and Elise Wojack took 3rd place.
In Pre-Calculus, Jason Kenny took 5th place. The Calculator Team of Peter Giannetos, Taylor Jurgens, Joe Kawiecki, Jackson Hajer, and Jason Kenny took 3rd place.
The Freshman/Sophomore 8-Person Team of Celeste Izaguirre, Jack Jameson, Ryan Lach, Isabella Linarez, Grace DiBartolomeo, Jacqueline DiMonte, Will O'Brien, and Josh Turner took 2nd place.
Overall, the RB team of all the students listed above as well as Kaitlin Gaynor, Mary Clare Greenlees, Claire Jacobs, Hailey Jurgens, and Jacob Wardzala, took 2nd place.
Speech Team
The RBHS Speech team had an exciting start to their season! They walked away with six category finalists at the Cary-Grove Invitational including Casey Whisler and Noah Morriss with 2nd place in Dramatic Duet Acting, Taner Guizeldereli with 2nd in Original Comedy. The Team then took home two championship 1st place metals -- Cameron Winkler in Humorous Interpretation, and Jonathan Wells in Radio! We are anticipating a great season.
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Information from the Office of Student Affairs
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Winter Safety Tips When Walking to School
As we transition into our colder months of the year, we want to remind all students who walk to school to:
- Wear multiple layers including a hat, gloves, a scarf or face mask on really cold days to prevent frostbite.
- Wear sturdy shoes and or boots with rubber soles. Larger boots are preferred as you can add a wool or comparable warm sock with it.
- Wear bright reflective clothes to make yourself more visible to drivers.
Hats and Hoods
Hats and hoods are not allowed to be worn by students during school hours from 8:00 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. Students found to be wearing any headgear during the school day will be issued a consequence through HERO, dependent upon the number of offenses. For a first offense, students will receive a warning, followed by a lunch detention on the second, and a Saturday detention on the third.
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Student Services Events and Information
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College Aid Planning Night with Joe Orsolini from College Aid Planner
Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium
Parents from all grade levels are welcome
Visit collegeaidplanners.com
Local Scholarship Applications for Seniors
The local scholarship applications will be available on the Student Services website on February 2, 2018. You can access the applications by clicking on the following links on the RB website: Students, Student Affairs, Student Services, College & Career, and Local Scholarships. The deadline for most applications is March 9, 2018, although a few scholarships have a different deadline. Please see your counselor with any questions.
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Fall Sports have concluded and a review of their seasons can be found by clicking
here
. The athletes highlighted in the report were also recognized at the November Board of Education meeting.
Winter Sports are in Full Swing
- Boys Basketball opened their season at our own Bill VandeMerkt Thanksgiving Tournament.
- Girls Basketball traveled to Maine East HS for their Thanksgiving games.
- Wrestling opened their season at Lyons HS and hosted the Bulldog Quad on December 2, at RB.
- Girls Gymnastics opened its season with two Invites at Hinsdale South and Downers Grove North.
- Boys Swimming had its first meet December 2, at Maine East Invite.
- Competitive Dance had their first competition on December 2, at Hersey HS.
- Competitive Cheerleading will start their first competition in December.
 To help keep the Bulldog Community connected, sign up and follow us on TWITTER, @rbhsathletics.
The Riverside Brookfield HS Athletic Booster's are always appreciative of help. Please consider joining the Boosters since all of their funds go directly to RB Athletics. You can register for membership online at
http://www.boosterapp.com/rbhs/
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All members are invited to the monthly Booster meetings that fall on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge. Upcoming Booster Meeting Dates: 12/21, 1/18, 2/15, 3/15, 4/19, and 5/17.
Our Athletic Website is called 8to18.com, which we launched to communicate Athletic information to the public, continues to grow and has many links and school forms for parents and community. Please check it out at
http://il.8to18.com/RBHS
and sign up now for e-mail alerts from the athletic department regarding important information regarding our athletic contests.
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Rouser
Congratulations to the 2016-2017 Rouser staff for receiving 1st Place in the Kettle Morraine Press Association yearbook competition. Special recognition goes to editors Raz Carmona, Audrey Connelly, Katie Mahoney, Olivia Meyer, Mary Padilla, Serena Palao, and Alli Prasch.
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Excellence and Ethics
in Education
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Important Dates
Please check our website for the dates and locations of all performances and events.
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December 19
Final Exams period 1, 2 and 3
8:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
December 20
Final Exams period 4 and 5
8:00 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
December 21
Final Exams
Period 6 and 7
December 21
End of 2nd Quarter / 1st Semester
December 22 - January 5
Winter Break
January 8
Classes resume
January 8
PTO Meeting
7:00 p.m.
Room 201
January 9
Board of Education Meeting
7:00 p.m.
January 10
Meet the School Safety Liaison
7:00 p.m.
Little Theater
January 15
Martin Luther King Holiday
No School
College Aid Planning Night
7:00 p.m.
Auditorium
January 17
Future Bulldog Night
7:00 p.m.
Gymnasium/Fieldhouse
January 27
Freshman Registration
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(By Appointment)
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Contact Us
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(708) 442-7500
newsletter@rbhs208.net
See our website for individual staff email addresses
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